Office



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAJOR ROMEYN JEWELL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE OFFICE SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FILE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,625, dated October 8, 1889. Application filed November 6, 1888. Serial No. 290,120. (No model.)

To all whom it mat concern.

'Be it known that I, MAJOR ROMEYN J EW- ELL, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York; have invented certain Improvements in File-Boxes, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates more particularly to those file-boxes-in which the follower-board or pressure devices are maintained in position on a central guide-bar by means of a lever or clamp.

. The improvements are intended for use in connection with boxes having clamping devices of the construction represented in Let- 'ters Patent to J. C. Lang, No. 353,953, dated December 7, 1886, although certain of the improvements are adapted'for use in connec tion with other and equivalentclamping devices known in the art.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a box having my improvements embodied therein. Fig. 2 isa view of the box in a slightly-different form. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the guide-rail. Fig. 4 is across-section on the line a: m of Figs. 1 and 5, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 'y y of Fig. 1, with the follower-board in operative position. Fig. 6 is a similar view 'of the follower-board in itsunlockedposition. Fig. 7

is a vertical section on the line 2 a, Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a modification.

In Fig. l I have represented a receptacle or box proper of the ordinary triangular form, composed of a base-board a, a vertical end board I), and the triangular side boards 0, secured rigidly to the other members.

B represents the follower-board or pressure device, which acts to confine the contents of the file against the end board I), as usual.

C represents a metallic rail or guide seated in a longitudinal groove or cavity in the upper surfaceof the base-board. This guiderail I construct of sheet metal, in one piece, rolled or otherwise formed with a longitudinal depression and with two raised edges. At oneend the rail is preferably bent downward, as shown ato in Fig. 3, this angular end serving as a support to assist in keeping the rail in position and to prevent it from tipping edgewise. The rail is screwed or otherwise securely fastened to the baseboard. At its front end it is preferably riveted to the cross-plate 0 the ends of which project laterally beyond the rail, and are seated in a slot formed for the purpose in the end of the base-board, this arrangement serving to retain the rail in place, and at the same time to stiffen or strengthen the baseboard. I

I connect the follower-board to the guiderail by means of a'link or hinge in such manner that the board may move lengthwise of the rail and also tip freely backward thereon. This link or hinge may be variously formed, the only requirement being that it shall have a pivotal connection with the board and also .a rocking or tipping action on the rail.

As shown in the drawings, the followerboard is provided with a platee, fixed rigidly thereto and provided with the rearwardlyprojecting ears. The link f, made of heavy wire or equivalent material, is passed horizontally and loosely through the ears of the plate e, and then bent downward and inward at its two ends, so as to engage beneath the edges of the guide-rail, as plainly shown in Figs. at and 5.

' In connection withthe follower and the link or hinge I propose to use a clamping or locking device of any suitable character to maintain the follower in an upright position. I prefer to employ, and I recommend for general use, a lever pivoted at h to the ears of the plate e, so that when turned to an up right position, as shown it Fig. 5, it will maintain the follower in its vertical position. and by the frictional engagement of the parts pre vent the follower from retreating. This lever in its general construction and mode of operation is similar to that in the Lang patent above alluded to, and when tipped backward it releases the parts and permits the follower to assume an inclined position, as in Fig. 6. As regards the link, it is manifest that v9 encircle the guide, it may be made as in Fig. 8, with journals at its upper end to enter the I00 ears of the plate e, and with a T-head at its lower end to pass through and engage beneath a longitudinally-slotted guide.

In Fig. 2 I have represented a box intended more particularly for the filing of pamphlets, sheet-music, and other sheets intended tolie upon their sides. This box consists of a rectangular base-board a and two vertical side walls 0 and a, secured to the base-board at right angles to each other. In this case the guide-rail, constructed as in the previous example, is mounted longitudinally in the vertical wall 0 and connected to the followerboard B by devices such as those above described. In this form of box it is desirable to have the follower-board B turned backward entirely outside of the box to permit convenient examination of its contents. I therefore make the link f of such form and cut away the end of the board 0 in such manner that when unlocked the board may be turned back, as in Figs. 2 and 7.

I am aware that follower-boards of fileboxes are commonly secured firmly to supporting-plates which slide and tip upon a guide-rail. My improvement in this regard consists in mountingthe follower to tip upon the link or connection, which is also free to tip independently upon the guide-rail. This permits the follower-board to tip backward to a. greater distance than would otherwise be possible in a box of the present type.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a file-box, a longitudinal guide or rail, the follower-supporting plate e, the swinging link or hinge connecting said plate with the guide, and the lever connected to the plate e, substantially as described.

2..lhe box or receptacle provided with a guide-rail, in combination with a followerboard and an intermediate connecting-link, said link arranged to slide and to tip forward and backward upon the rail and alsojointed to the follower, that the latter may be tipped independently of the motion of the link, whereby the follower is permitted to tip backward to a greater distance than would otherwise be allowable.

3. The guide-rail for a file-box, consisting of the sheet-metal bar longitudinally depressed at its middle, elevated at its edges, and bent downward at one end, as shown.

4. The file-box having the rectangular base and the two vertical walls at right angles to each other, its remaining sides being open, in combination with a longitudinal guide, a horizontal follower-board, and clamping devices, substantially as shown, connecting said follower-board to the guide.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 20th day of March, 1888, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

MAJOR ROMEYN J EWVELL.

Witnesses:

H. P. REIBLING, E. J. WARD. 

